What is a Fire Risk Assessment? Your Comprehensive Guide to Fire Safety
All business owners, landlords or property managers have heard of a fire risk assessment and most understand the importance, but have you ever asked the question “What is a fire risk assessment?”, you are not alone. In this post, we will breakdown exactly what a fire risk assessment is, what is covers and the importance of having a proper fire risk assessment. Whether you are managing a commercial property, rental property, business or public space, understand the fire risk assessment process is extremely important to the safety of lives and property in your building. So grab a coffee, and a pen and paper and take notes!
In this detailed guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about fire risk assessments, including their importance, legal requirements, and the process of carrying them out properly.
TJC Fire & Electrical carry out fire risk assessments for the whole of Dorset, Hampshire & Wiltshire, out expert team take the hassle and stress out of FRA’s for you. See more on our fire risk assessment services.
What is a Fire Risk Assessment?
A fire risk assessment is the evaluation of potential fire hazards within a property. It is designed to determine the likelihood of potential risks and evaluate how measures can be put in place to reduce or eliminate the risk. The assessment is carried out in compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which is the primary fire safety legislation governing in England and Wales.
The process is designed to achieve two main goals:
- Prevent Fires: By identifying and mitigating hazards that could lead to a fire.
- Protect Lives: By ensuring appropriate measures are in place to safeguard occupants in case of an emergency.
Fire risk assessments are presented in reports and have a risk evaluation along with a scale of hazard risk indicator. This indicator acts as a point system providing a visual and clear understanding of the most important risks down to the most trivial. The higher the score, the more measures required to mitigate or remove the risk.
Following a fire risk assessment, you may have identified new or outstanding hazards that require remedial works such as smoke detectors, fire extinguishers or emergency lighting to comply with fire safety laws. This gives you a guide on exactly what is required to keep your building safe and compliant.
Why Are Fire Risk Assessments Important?
1. Legal Compliance
In the UK, fire risk assessments are mandatory for many types of properties, including:
- Commercial premises (e.g., offices, shops, warehouses).
- Multi-occupancy residential buildings (e.g., HMOs, flats with shared spaces).
- Public venues (e.g., schools, hospitals, entertainment venues).
Failure to comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 can result in significant penalties, including fines or imprisonment. Minor penalties can be up to £5,000 with major penalties serving prison time and unlimited fines as outlined in the Governments Fire Safety in the Workplace.
https://www.gov.uk/workplace-fire-safety-your-responsibilities/enforcement-appeals-and-penalties
Local fire and rescue authorities can take action against anyone of any business that is not meetings the minimum fire safety standards. These can include:
- Alteration notices
- Enforcement notices
- Prohibition notices
2. Life Safety
According to the UK Home Office, fire incidents cause over 200 deaths and 6,300 injuries annually. A well-executed fire risk assessment minimises the chances of such tragedies by identifying risks and implementing preventative measures.
3. Insurance Validity
Most property insurance policies require compliance with fire safety regulations. A fire risk assessment helps ensure your policy remains valid, protecting your business or property from potential financial loss.
4. Property Protection
Fires can cause significant structural damage, disrupt business operations, and result in costly repairs. Identifying hazards early can prevent these devastating outcomes.
What Does a Fire Risk Assessment Involve?
A fire risk assessment involves a systematic evaluation of fire hazards and risks and how to mitigate or remove them. Although we are all naturally aware of risks in everyday life and subconsciously take natural measures to avoid them, putting aside time to carry out an in-depth analysis of fire hazards is extremely important. Critical thinking is necessary to asses the severity of the risk and come up with a action plan of how to reduce it.
Below are the key stages of our fire risk assessment process:
1. Identifying Fire Hazards
This step involves locating potential sources of:
- Ignition: Electrical equipment, open flames, heat sources, or faulty wiring.
- Fuel: Flammable materials such as paper, chemicals, furniture, and waste.
- Oxygen: Natural airflow, air conditioning systems, or oxygen tanks.
Noting down each potential hazard and its location. This might include a piece of equipment, its hours of use and specific location. It might also include a look at the equipments previous testing certification such as PAT (Portable appliance testing) to check its safety records are in date.
2. Assessing Who is at Risk
Consideration is given to:
- Employees and contractors.
- Visitors, customers, or clients.
- Vulnerable groups such as children, elderly, or disabled individuals.
Some locations will require more in-depth analysis on who is at risk than others. Places such as hospitals or care homes where vulnerable and unwell people are housed can pose additional risk. These additional risks require additional steps to be thought about such as safe emergency evacuation and early warning detection. There might also be considerations such as early warning detection for those who are blind or deaf. This would require specialist equipment to be installed or risk management protocol to be put in place.
3. Evaluating Risks and Implementing Controls
Once hazards are identified, steps are taken to:
- Remove or reduce fire risks (e.g., maintaining electrical equipment, securing flammable materials).
- Introduce preventative measures like fire alarms, sprinkler systems, and fire extinguishers.
The fire risk assessment will provide you with a points based fire hazard warning list which provides you with an overview of which hazards are most important. It is imperative to safety that safety measures are implemented in a timely manor to reduce the overall risk to the building and occupants. Any work should be carried out as soon as reasonably possible.
TJC Fire & Electrical can provide a remedial quotation for any necessary works required following the completion of a fire risk assessment.
4. Recording Findings and Preparing an Emergency Plan
Documentation includes:
- Identified hazards and the measures taken to mitigate them.
- Emergency plans detailing evacuation routes and procedures.
For guidance on what must be recorded, refer to HSE Fire Safety Guidance.
Once the fire risk assessment has been carried out, and any remedial works has been completed, it is important to document and keep record of the event and the measures you took to overcome fire risks. This might be useful for referring back to in the future and providing evidence of previous mitigation of risk if you ever require it.
5. Regular Reviews
A fire risk assessment is not a one time activity. It must be reviewed periodically, particularly when:
- There are significant changes to the property layout.
- New equipment or activities are introduced.
- Fire incidents occur.
Unless any of the above has taken place, fire risk assessments should be reviewed annually as a minimum. This keeps fire safety records up to date and inline with legislation. If you are in a environment where significant changes have been made to the building, its use or a fire has occurred, it is important to carry out a new fire risk assessment. Fire hazards can change identifying new fire hazards can be as important as saving a life.
Who is Responsible for Fire Risk Assessments?
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the responsible person must ensure a fire risk assessment is conducted. This individual is typically:
- The employer (in commercial businesses).
- The landlord or property manager (in commercial buildings or shared spaces).
- The owner or occupier of a public venue.
Although this person might be not at the building, it is still part of their legal duty to undertake a fire risk assessment or ensure that an adequate FRA has taken place on the building. The responsible person can appoint a “competent person” to carry out the FRA on their behalf. The competent person should be qualified to do so and have the necessary understanding of compliance and law. You can find more guide on the Gov.uk Fire Safety: Guidance For Those With Legal Duties.
TJC Fire & Electrical can carry out all fire risk assessments on any type of building, removing the hassle and stress associated with them. We are here to help.
Contact us on 01202 985 655
Benefits of a Professional Fire Risk Assessment
While anyone with sufficient knowledge can conduct a fire risk assessment, hiring a professional in most scenarios is recommended. Hiring a professional fire risk assessor ensures:
- Comprehensive hazard identification.
- Compliance with current fire safety regulations.
- Expert advice on cost effective improvements.
At TJC Fire & Electrical, we offer detailed fire risk assessments in Bournemouth, Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire, and surrounding areas. Our experts tailor solutions to your property’s specific needs, ensuring maximum safety and compliance. We can also provide advice, guidance and quotations for any remedial works to ensure safety and cost effective solutions.
How Often Should Fire Risk Assessments Be Conducted?
There’s no fixed timeline for fire risk assessments, but they should be reviewed:
- Annually: For high-risk properties or those with frequent changes.
- Every 3-5 Years: For lower-risk premises with minimal changes.
- After Major Changes: Such as renovations, new equipment installations, or changes in building usage.
The more frequent a fire risk assessment is carried out, the low the risk of damage to property and people. We highly recommend an annual fire risk assessment to ensure the highest levels of safety.
What Happens If You Don’t Conduct a Fire Risk Assessment?
Non-compliance can lead to:
- Prosecution: Fines up to £5,000 for minor breaches or unlimited fines/imprisonment for severe cases.
- Insurance Voids: Claims may be denied if fire safety obligations are not met.
- Reputational Damage: A fire incident in a non-compliant property can harm your reputation.
Non of us would like to think about the worst case scenario, but the risk of fire really shouldn’t be taken lightly by any business owner or landlord. People using buildings are constantly under risk, mitigating and reducing that risk is a duty you must comply with.
Why Choose TJC Fire & Electrical?
At TJC Fire & Electrical, we provide expert fire risk assessments to help you:
- Stay compliant with fire safety laws.
- Protect lives and property.
- Avoid penalties and insurance issues.
With years of experience serving Bournemouth, Dorset, and beyond, our team delivers tailored fire safety solutions to suit your property’s unique needs.
Need to Book Your Fire Risk Assessment?
Fire safety isn’t just a legal requirement, it’s a responsibility. Protect your property, occupants, and peace of mind by booking a professional fire risk assessment today. Visit our Fire Risk Assessments Page or contact us directly for more information.
Don’t leave fire safety to chance. Take the first step with TJC Fire & Electrical.